MacDonald Downs (Northern Territory) sociological and anthopological data cards

Archive Collections / Board for Anthropological Research / Series AA346/04 / MacDonald Downs (Northern Territory) sociological and anthopological data cards
Board for Anthropological Research Expedition F 'F1 - 62 MacDonald Downs Sociological Data' and 'F1 - F61, MacDonald Downs Anthropological Data'

Two card series containing sociological data and three card series containing anthropological data collected on the Board for Anthropological Research expedition to MacDonald Downs, Central Australia, in August-September 1930. Cards have (expedition symbol) F written in the top left hand corner.

  1. F1 - F62 MacDonald Downs Sociological Data
    Preceding the series is a card: 'Records of combined Museum and Anthropology Board Expedition to Macdonald Downs, Aug - Sept. 1930.'

    This series comprises printed cards on which data has been recorded under the following headings: (individual subject) Number, Native Name, Sex, Age, Tribe, Location and Date; and which have space for two photographs. Most cards have two black and white photographic prints attached, usually a front and a profile portrait showing head and shoulders or head and torso. The photographs also show (individual subject) numbers. Cards have ' Iliara' printed in the Tribe heading, and 'MacDonald Downs, C. A.' and 'Aug. - Sept. 1930' printed in Location and Date headings. This series contains cards on individuals numbered 1 to 61, but note that 2 cards are missing from the series or were not completed.

  2. F1 - F62 MacDonald Downs Sociological Data
    This series comprises printed cards on which data has been recorded under the following headings: in the first section: (individual subject) number, Native name, Tribe, Sex, Age, Secret name, White name, Where born, Subclass, Totem; the second section has headings for the recording of a similar level of detail about the individual's father, mother, siblings, spouse, and children. Cards have a final line to record information about the photographs taken and location and date of recording of the data, and Remarks (over). Some cards also have notes on reverse (recording plaster casts taken of individuals, for example). This series contains cards on individuals numbered 1 to 62. Cards are in NB Tindale's hand, and signed by him. The first card is annotated with information about the method used to establish the age of individuals; also 'standard photographs of this trip by NB T[indale].', and notes on reverse: 'Drawings: 2 independent series obtained 1 for Museum by NB Tindale. Dr RH Pulleine made a personal series which were subsequently pres.[ented] To Mus.[eum] Also. These drawings have been "fixed" by passing through a bath of dilute shellac and are filed separately in a folder on brown paper sheets approx 35 x 55 cm.'

  3. F1 - F61 MacDonald Downs Anthropological Data
    The series comprises printed cards on which data has been recorded under the following headings: (individual subject) Number, White Name, Native Name, Sex, Age, Date, Locality, Tribe and Totem. A second section contains physical measurements and observations, and some cards have additional notes below this section. The reverse of the card records further physical measurements and observations. This series contains cards on individuals numbered 1 to 61. Note that there are multiple cards on some individuals, and that some cards are blank.

  4. F1 - F61, MacDonald Downs Anthropological Data
    This series comprises printed cards on which data has been recorded under the following headings: (individual subject) Number, Sex and Age; a section headed 'Relationships. Subject's:-'; and a third section for recording specific sets of physical measurements ('indices'). Most cards have been annotated with a tribal/language group name. The series contains cards recording data on individuals numbered 1 to 61, but note that some cards are blank, and some cards are missing.

  5. F1 - F61, MacDonald Downs Anthropological Data
    This series comprises hand-written cards which appear to be records of results of various physiological, sensory and psychological tests, including 'Grip', 'Pain' and 'Visual acuity'. The series contains cards recording data on individuals numbered 1 to 60. A note on the first card of the squence reads: 'data gathered by HK Fry'. The amount of information recorded on the cards varies; and some cards have data on both sides.



Note that within any given series the amount of data recorded varies from card to card.

See related collections: AA 338 Tindale; AA 259 Pulleine; AA 105 Fry.

These card series include references to: Northern Territory.

Note that the data cards contain many variant spellings of tribal/language group names. In the descriptions here the various terms and spellings have been reproduced, with what appear to be amendments noted square brackets. It has not been possible in all cases to supply corresponding tribal/language group names according to standardised spellings adopted by NB Tindale (see AA 338) and AIATSIS (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies).

This card series includes references to the following named groups: Arunta, Iliaura.

Tindale Tribes: Aranda; Iliaura.

AIATSIS Tribal/Language Groups: Alyawarre; Arrernte.

These cards are located in Drawer 2.

CreatorBoard for Anthropological Research
ControlAA 346/4/12
Date Range01 August, 1930  -  01 September, 1930
Quantity 13cm,   5   card series; cards 20.5 x 12.7 cm
Series AA346/04
Tindale Tribes: